Years ago, even after I stopped doing architectural models, i normaly filed a quarterly return of 0. Well, I missed one. Some new tax clerk went big time sending registered mail and imposing a big fine.
Except the then State Treasurer had been my fathers secretary at the WPA (He had the #2 or #3 job running things then) No fine occured. Just an apology When I co chaired the running of the big Kirtland show we were only questioned once. As to zoning problems I spent years in city then planning, winding up as the Kirtland City Zoning Inspector for 14 1/2 years.. I followed the premise that if you could not see it, hear it, or smell it, then it was not there, One party had a super machine shop in his basement. Just how he got those HUGE machines down there I could not ever figure out. the only obvious thing was a great big fork lift.in the garage. He used water based cutting compounds so the fire dept. left him alone The real problems were the landscapers and their messes and equipment. We had a few car collectors , or anything with wheels. I walked all the back areas for tire piles (mosquito centers) and those who changed their car oil and dumped old oil in the woods We are 17 square miles. I know it all. I learned who all the wine makers were, some excellent , others in the vinegar business. One Slovenian, Martin, with poor English would never do what the police, the mayor, city council, or the law director told him to do. (He had a neighbor, who should have been shot, constantly complaining about everything. mostly meaniningless things). Martin would immediately do anything I told him was necessary. He is the best winemaker in town. His wife was a fantastic cook and baker. An immaculte yard and garden (and smokehouse). It is amazing how lazy and sloppy some families were. Then there were the developers, and those <>?&^%$#@ real estate people. Anything for a fast buck. I saved a few licenses. I had heard rumors of a big junk collection for along time. It turned out to be way back covering parts of 4 very, very large parcels. 7 pickup trucks , every kind of household item known to man, at least 1000 paint cans. and so on. It cost the 4 owners $20,000 to clean it up. NO LIONEL though. Then there were the failed septic systems. PHEW John Armstrong Zoning is necessary and useful for balance. Some communities get carried away trying to satisfy the prissy crowd. . John Armstrong ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Hawley To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 2:12 PM Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Local Hobby Shops ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Werre . . . . . . . . . , there were a couple of semi-hobby shops that were housed in private homes.. . . . . . . . . . . . I had approached a couple of our manufacturers with that very idea but neither seemed particularly interested. . . . . . . . . . > > > > > > > > > > > > > The idea of a "basement operator" serving the needs of confirmed and potential S gaugers in a metropolitan area is worth pursuing. We used to have them around here, one actually in his basement, the other in his garage. These were gathering places for modellers during their business hours, and they made some sales, HO of course. Both men are now deceased. Manufacturers / importers are in a bit of a bind at the moment, but when things get sorted out, they ought to be willing to work with you. Both to confirm you're not just trying to get a discount on stuff you & your buddies want, and to make S look like a viable modelling scale, you'll need to invest several thousand dollars in both AM and SHS goods, and a proportional amount in any other business that will deal with you. And don't expect any of them to give you a 40% discount. Three locos & a dozen freight cars on a shelf, with a "We can get it for you" sign, isn't going to convince anyone that S is worth pursuing. As to doing this in a residentially zoned area, the hate-the-government crowd may try to discourage you, but local governments and zoning administrators have become aware of the popularity and benefit of home-based businesses. As long as you don't have big semis blocking the street making regular deliveries, and customers parked up and down the street for two blocks, you probably won't have a problem. Advertise by word-of-mouth, resist the temptation to put a big neon sign on your house. And if you're really worried, call your zoning administrator's office, tell them there will be no outward change in appearance and you'll be lucky to get five customers a week. They'll most likely say go ahead. Just another "Mary Kay." Tom Hawley -- dba Michigan Models. __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5615 (20101112) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5615 (20101112) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
